same-sex marriage became legal in Hawaii... It's splintering congregations in some area churches.. There are debates all over the islands over whether they should let couples use their facilities for commercial weddings! If they allow traditional weddings, they have to allow same-sex ones as well. KITV-4's Catherine Cruz has the story -- ALL NEW at 6 ... There has been lots of hand- wringing and soul searching over this. Lose money, or lose members? Different churches are taking different approaches. Kawaiahao Church very quietly stopped booking commerical weddings late last year. It's holding off until the congregation decides whether to allow its facilities to be used for same sex marriages. Members could vote next month. Across town at Central Union the vote was two to one to allow its church to be used for weddings without regard to gender, But it did not come without a cost. About a half a dozen members parted ways with the church. - David Hirano 1: 48 - 1: 58 - "It is always painful to lose members, especially members who have been here for along time. Everyone understood there would be fallout." David Hirano said the vote threatened to affect the church's collection box. Pastor David Hirano 2:30- 2:50 - Some had been withholding their pledges until the vote took place. The day I heard that two pledges that were withdrawn--I also learned four pledges that were made." At St Peters Episcopal church downtown leaders say the congregation is still in talks, but for the time being.. the company that handles commercial weddings there will be allowed to conduct same gender ceremonies. That could be new business for the companies who cater to out of towners looking for venue by the ocean-- like at Calvary by the sea. So far fears about discrimination by wedding venders have not materialized at the civil rights commisison; - Bill Hoshijo 22: 54- 23;03 - "Hard to guess at what the reason is, but and its probably true that people are likely to go where feel welcomed," But with some churches still on the fence about whehter to put out the welcome mat, Central union has found a way to make peace with its church staff. If you don't want to take part in same-sex weddings, you don't have to. - Bill Hoshijo 24: 23- 24:35 - "It may be a good compromise. It respects the choice of individuals while still not denying servies to same sex couples," So far there have been no requests for same sex weddings at the churches we checked with but we are told a United Church of Christ church on the Big Island's Hamakua coast who opened its doors to same- sex weddings has performed one so far. back to

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